People who make medically serious suicide attempts (MSSAs) share a number of features with those who die by suicide, and are at a high risk of suicide themselves. Studies to date have mostly focused on clinical samples of MSSAs. An epidemiological examination at a national level can help to identify risk profiles and pathways of care in this population.

We explored the French nationwide hospital discharge database (Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information, PMSI) to identify any MSSA taking place between 2012 and 2019. Relevant demographic and medical information was collected about the first MSSA of each attempter. Data from 2010 and 2011 were used to verify the absence of prior attempts.

First occurrences of MSSAs amounted to 81 959 cases over 8 years, with a mean age of 45.8 years, and 53.6% women. Incidence was higher in women (18.1 v. 17.3 per 1 00 000). The most common suicide method was deliberate self-poisoning (64.9% of cases). In comparison, violent methods associated higher mortality and comorbidity and were more frequent in men. The most common mental disorders were mood disorders (55.6%) and substance use disorders (46.2%). A minority of MSSA survivors were hospitalised in psychiatry (32.5%), mostly women.

MSSAs are frequent and easy to identify. There is a need to reinforce the continuity of psychiatric care for this population given the high risk of subsequent suicide, and the low rates of psychiatric hospitalisation after an MSSA even if violent methods are used. Specific care targeting this population could reduce treatment gaps.

Objective – To discuss the difficulties encountered in providing rehabilitation to multi-problematic clients, and possible remedies. Method – The principles of psychiatric rehabilitation are outlined in the frame of the bio-psycho-social model and in the light of long-term follow-up studies. The limits of professional services and the importance of natural networks for successful rehabilitation and social adjustment are highlighted. Results – Worker cooperatives and consumer self-help associations seem to successfully complement health and social services in meeting the complex needs of this population. Conclusions – The integration of formal and informal networks of care is a major challenge and a relatively neglected, but important area of interest in contemporary psychiatric rehabilitation.

Declaration of Interest: no conflict of interests.

Scopo - Analizzare l'attività del Servizio Psichiatrico di Diagnosi e Cura di Pavia nel periodo compreso tra il 1978 (anno dell'apertura del servizio) ed il 1990. Disegno - Analisi retrospettiva dei dati contenuti in un archivio computerizzato, nel quale, a partire dal 1978, sono state raccolte informazioni relative alle caratteristiche socio-demografiche e nosologiche dei pazienti ricoverati, nonché alia modalità ed all'andamento dei ricoveri. Setting - Il Servizio Psichiatrico di Diagnosi e Cura di Pavia, il cui bacino di utenza è costituito dall'ULSS 77, comprendente la città di Pavia e 61 comuni limitrofi. Principali indici utilizzati - Per ciascun anno considerato sono stati ricavati: indicatori d'uso (primi ricoveri, ricoveri complessivi, giornate di degenza, pazienti ricoverati); presenza media giornaliera e media annuale dei massimi mensili di pazienti ricoverati; indicatori d'intensita d'uso o di flusso (degenza media, indice di occupazione media dei posti-letto, indice di turnover, indice di rotazione dei posti-letto). La produttivita del servizio è stata indagata utilizzando il monogramma di Barber. Risultati - Tra il 1978 ed il 1983 si è verificato un progressivo incremento nel numero dei pazienti ricoverati, dei ricoveri complessivi e delle giornate di degenza; è seguito un periodo stazionario protrattosi fino al 1987; infine, durante gli ultimi tre anni il numero dei ricoveri complessivi e quello dei pazienti ricoverati sono leggermente diminuiti, mentre le giornate di degenza sono rimaste sostanzialmente stabili. Il numero annuale dei pazienti entrati in contatto per la prima volta con il servizio ha segnato due picchi negli anni 1979 e 1983 (N = 250), diminuendo poi progressivamente fino ai valori di 139 nel 1989 e di 152 nel 1990. Le frazione percentuali dei primi ricoveri rispetto ai ricoveri complessivi e rispetto ai pazienti ricoverati si sono ridotte nel corso del periodo considerato: nel 1990 esse erano pari a 30% e 50% rispettivamente. Presenza media giornaliera e media annuale dei massimi mensili di pazienti ricoverati sono aumentate tra il 1979 ed il 1983, passando da 12 a 21 pazienti/die, e da 14 a 25 pazienti/die, rispettivamente; negli ultimi otto anni i due parametri si sono stabilizzati su valori di 20-21 e 24-25 pazienti/die rispettivamente. II nomogramma di Barber, costruito sulla base dei valori assunti dagli indicatori d'intensita d'uso nel corso di ciascun anno considerato, ha mostrato che tutti gli anni in esame si sono distribuiti entro la zona di produttivita accettabile, ad eccezione del 1980 e del 1981. Conclusioni - Dopo una fase iniziale di progressiva espansione, il servizio sembra aver raggiunto una fase di equilibrio dinamico con il suo bacino di utenza, fornendo per la maggior parte del periodo considerato un livello di produttività accettabile.

servizi psichiatrici, utilizzazione, dei servizi, produttività.

Objective – To analyze the activity of a General Hospital Psychiatric Inpatient Service in Pavia between 1978 (when the service was set up) and 1990. Design - Retrospective analysis of data stored in a computerized database, in which, since 1978, information has been collected on sociodemographic and nosological characteristics of patients admitted to the service, as well as on clinical aspects of all admissions. Setting – A General Hospital Psychiatric Inpatient Service in Pavia, whose catchmentarea (ULSS 77) includes the town of Pavia and 61 close municipalities. Main outcome measures -For each yearover the period considered we reported on: the indices of service utilization (first admissions, total admissions, days of stay, number of admitted patients); the mean daily number of inpatients, and the mean of the largest daily numbers of inpatients by month; the indices of intensity of service utilization (mean lenght of stay, index of bed occupation, index of turnover, index of bed rotation). The service productivity was determined according to the Barber's nomogram. Results – Between 1978 and 1983 patients admitted to the service, total admissions, and days of stay gradually increased; a steady period then followed until 1987; over the last three years, total admissions and the number of admitted patients slightly decreased, while daysof stay remained substantially stable. The annual number of patients admitted for the first time to the service marked two peaks in 1979 and 1983 (N = 250), and then gradually decreased to 139 in 1989 and 152 in 1990. The percent ratio of first admissions by total admissions and that of first admissions by the number of admitted patients showed a reduction over the period considered: in 1990 they were 30% and 50% respectively. The mean daily number of inpatients and the mean of the largest daily numbers of inpatients by month increased between 1979 and 1983, from 12 to 21 and from 14 to 25 patients/day respectively; over the last eight years the values remained rather constant, around 20-21 and 24-25 patients/day respectively. The Barber's nomogram, obtained on the basis of the indices of intensity of service utilization over the period considered, showed that each year fell within the area of acceptable productivity, with the exception of 1980 and 1981. Conclusions – After an initial phase of gradual expansion, the service then reached asteadystate, providing an acceptable productivity over most of the period considered.

Psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) is at the core of psychiatric recovery. There is a paucity of evidence regarding how the needs and characteristics of patients guide clinical decisions to refer to PSR interventions. Here, we used explainable machine learning methods to determine how socio-demographic and clinical characteristics contribute to initial referrals to PSR interventions in patients with serious mental illness.

Data were extracted from the French network of rehabilitation centres, REHABase, collected between years 2016 and 2022 and analysed between February and September 2022. Participants presented with serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorders, autism spectrum disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and personality disorders. Information from 37 socio-demographic and clinical variables was extracted at baseline and used as potential predictors. Several machine learning models were tested to predict initial referrals to four PSR interventions: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), cognitive remediation (CR), psychoeducation (PE) and vocational training (VT). Explanatory power of predictors was determined using the artificial intelligence-based SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) method from the best performing algorithm.

Data from a total of 1146 patients were included (mean age, 33.2 years [range, 16–72 years]; 366 [39.2%] women). A random forest algorithm demonstrated the best predictive performance, with a moderate or average predictive accuracy [micro-averaged area under the receiver operating curve from ‘external’ cross-validation: 0.672]. SHAP dependence plots demonstrated insightful associations between socio-demographic and clinical predictors and referrals to PSR programmes. For instance, patients with psychotic disorders were more likely to be referred to PE and CR, while those with non-psychotic disorders were more likely to be referred to CBT and VT. Likewise, patients with social dysfunctions and lack of educational attainment were more likely to be referred to CR and VT, while those with better functioning and education were more likely to be referred to CBT and PE.

A combination of socio-demographic and clinical features was not sufficient to accurately predict initial referrals to four PSR programmes among a French network of rehabilitation centres. Referrals to PSR interventions may also involve service- and clinician-level factors. Considering socio-demographic and clinical predictors revealed disparities in referrals with respect to diagnoses, current clinical and psychological issues, functioning and education.

This study aimed to summarize the evidence on sleep alterations in medication-naïve children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

We systematically searched PubMed/Medline, Embase and Web of Science databases from inception through March 22, 2021. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021243881). Any observational study was included that enrolled medication-naïve children and adolescents with ASD and compared objective (actigraphy and polysomnography) or subjective sleep parameters with typically developing (TD) counterparts. We extracted relevant data such as the study design and outcome measures. The methodological quality was assessed through the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A meta-analysis was carried out using the random-effects model by pooling effect sizes as Hedges’ g. To assess publication bias, Egger’s test and p-curve analysis were done. A priori planned meta-regression and subgroup analysis were also performed to identify potential moderators.

Out of 4277 retrieved references, 16 studies were eligible with 981 ASD patients and 1220 TD individuals. The analysis of objective measures showed that medication-naïve ASD patients had significantly longer sleep latency (Hedges’ g 0.59; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.26 to 0.92), reduced sleep efficiency (Hedges’ g −0.58; 95% CI −0.87 to −0.28), time in bed (Hedges’ g −0.64; 95% CI −1.02 to −0.26) and total sleep time (Hedges’ g −0.64; 95% CI −1.01 to −0.27). The analysis of subjective measures showed that they had more problems in daytime sleepiness (Hedges’ g 0.48; 95% CI 0.26 to 0.71), sleep latency (Hedges’ g 1.15; 95% CI 0.72 to 1.58), initiating and maintaining sleep (Hedges’ g 0.86; 95% CI 0.39 to 1.33) and sleep hyperhidrosis (Hedges’ g 0.48; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.66). Potential publication bias was detected for sleep latency, sleep period time and total sleep time measured by polysomnography. Some sleep alterations were moderated by age, sex and concurrent intellectual disability. The median NOS score was 8 (interquartile range 7.25–8.75).

We found that medication-naïve children and adolescents with ASD presented significantly more subjective and objective sleep alterations compared to TD and identified possible moderators of these differences. Future research requires an analysis of how these sleep alterations are linked to core symptom severity and comorbid behavioural problems, which would provide an integrated therapeutic intervention for ASD. However, our results should be interpreted in light of the potential publication bias.